Many in the sport believe Shakur Stevenson is the future pound-for-pound number one, and the man himself wants to prove it.
A two-weight world champion at just 26-years-old with an opportunity to make that three in a matter of weeks, Stevenson is rising through the ranks as quick as anybody has.
The amateur standout is currently in the lightweight division and angling for fights against the likes of Devin Haney, Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Vasily Lomachenko.
Another man he’s keen to compete with is one Teofimo Lopez, the former unified champion at 135 and now WBO titlist up at 140. In fact, Stevenson told Cigar Talk that he messaged Teo about it just the other week.
“Three weeks ago me and Teo was in the DMs. And that was what came up. Basically I took him like, s**t, one day we’re gonna fight. It was like a regular conversation cause I’m cool with Teo, but I did say at the end of the conversation we gonna fight.”
Lopez has moved up to super-lightweight and dethroned previously undefeated and undisputed champion Josh Taylor. Following the impressive performance, he said he would retire from the sport.
Thankfully for fans and future opponents, the Brooklyn native has since said he will fight on, and is currently in talks to stage a big event next year. He told Stevenson their bout would happen if he stuck around.
“He was like, if he’s in boxing then he’ll definitely be down.”
Stevenson said that their almost-collision course – beginning in the amateurs – had always been blocked by a one-weight gap. With a future move up to 140 almost inevitable, fans are likely to see it in the pro ranks.
“When I came up it was me, him, Boots [Ennis] – we dominated the tournaments. Teo was doing his thing [and] he seen me. He seen me raw, since a youngin. He knew I was the truth, I knew he was the truth. We was just never at the same weight class. We was always one weight class apart.”
Before he can organise fights with his hit-list, Stevenson must first face Edwin De Los Santos. A win on November 16 in Las Vegas makes him WBC Lightweight World Champion.